Steering Wheel Switch Now Air Bag Light On

[lambretta man]

Hi Guys

Help needed again, I have changed my standard multi function steering wheeel on my 316 ti compact for a 'M' multi function wheel. the wheels are identical and all the multi function buttons are working ok however the air bag warning light has come on the dash. The air bag is the one from my old wheel as the new one did not have one and the warning light was not on before the switch over. I have checked that the plugs on the airbag are located correctly. Will it reset itself after a few miles or am I looking at a more serious problem. Cheers. Jeff.

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Did you disconnect the Battery before the swap?

[lambretta man]

negative battery terminal was disconected as per manual

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

It will NOT reset without your intervention...

Can you access the on-board computer using VIN total?

[lambretta man]

Sorry havn't a clue !! Is it still safe to drive with the airbag light on ? Cheers

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Perfectly safe mate...

Remove the Drivers seat trim and unplug the connector... Plug it back in lol

[lambretta man]

Thanks for reply,

Is the plug you are refering to under the seat and do I need to diconnect the battery before doing so. (Sorry for being a div)

Cheers Mate

jeff.

[Guest DazH]

Thanks for reply,

Is the plug you are refering to under the seat and do I need to diconnect the battery before doing so. (Sorry for being a div)

Cheers Mate

jeff.

Out of my experience, disconnect the battery before you touch that cable to avoid premature deployment :)

Daz

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Just to be sure eh?

The plug itself is a common fault and an easy fix, just loose thats all !

[Guest DazH]

Just to be sure eh?

The plug itself is a common fault and an easy fix, just loose thats all !

I know someone who nearly lost their hand. Used the steering wheel to counter his body weight as he lent under the seat to grab the connector than BANG! hahaha

Daz

[Snypa-D]

The light would be on because you removed the old steering wheel and terminated the connection from that wheel and airbag and the steering column.The car then disables ALL the airbags (light on) as it thinks there is a fault or it has deployed.ie your airbags wont work while the light is on.Best way to sort it is to go see your regular mechanic and ask him to reset it for ya,chuck him a fiver and its jobe done,the proper way without bending pins into plugs (the DIY way,lol) If he cant reset it then there is def something wrong with the system/wiring,sensors etc,but its normally just the wheel change that did it :) hope that helps

[lambretta man]

Thanks for all replies guys,

Called in at a local garage yesterday, the guy who normally does the diagnostic checks was on a call out so another mechanic tried to re-set it but couldn't said it was showing a wiring fault in the steering column and I think he said it was a code 12 error (but I could be mistaken). When I got home I rang a local mobile auto electrician who has been out this morning but couldn't even get into my cars computer with the gear he had but to be fair he did not charge me anything. I've since had the airbag out and checked the connections and everything appears to be ok. Going to ring around a few local garages now and see if anyone has the right gear to re-set it. Will keep you posted. Cheers Jeff.

UPDATE.

Been to another local garage this morning who had the the equipment to access the system and it wont reset. Its showing drivers airbag stage 2 fault, unfortunately they did not have the time to remove the airbag and see what the fault may be but I had already taken the thing off yesterday and there was nothing wrong that I could see. The only thing I did when I swapped the wheel was to change the black airbag plug. The one that was on the new wheel had been damaged when it was removed from the car so I removed the one from my old wheel and carefully joined the wires together making sure that the correct colour coded wires were the same and used very small block connectors to connect the wires together and taped everything up so there is no possibility of anything touching. I did a continuity test on the wires and that was ok. Now wondering if I could be getting some kind of voltage drop or resistance through the block connectors and not being the least bit electrical I dont know if this is a possibility. I'm trying to fix the problem myself and then get it reset locally rather than going to a BMW specialist so any advice would be most welcome. Cheers Jeff.

[Snypa-D]

Im all out of ideas now mate,soz,but good luck with it and keep us posted :)

[lambretta man]

Spoke to an independent BMW garage yesterday and he is going to hook it up to his super duper computer / diagnostic machine so hopefully that may give us the answer were looking for.

Will keep you posted with the answer. Cheers.

UPDATE

Super Duper Computer says resistance drop in steering wheel to airbag wiring. Have ordered replacment small wiring loom and plugs from BMW. Should

be here friday. Will try and fit over the weekend and report back

[Snypa-D]

Good work,keep us posted :)

[lambretta man]

ITS OUT !!!

Fitted the new small wiring loom that connects the airbag to the steering wheel, called at my local garage who reset it for free and thankfully the warning light went out. Loom only cost £20 from a main BMW dealer. (thought they would charge me £20 just to enter the showroom !) Apparently when I had replaced one of the airbag plugs by cutting the wires and re-soldering the wires together they are extremly current sensitive and although the soldered joints were very good there was just enough current drop to register a fault. Thanks to everyone on the forum for their suggestions. Cheers

[Snypa-D]

Congrats mate :)

[G4VHD]

Nice on mate well done